International Initiative for Pediatrics and Nutrition (IIPAN)

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica (UNOP)

Guatemala is a lower-middle income country in Central America; where an estimated of 51% of people live in poverty and has one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the world. The national prevalence in children under-five with stunting is high (46.7%). Undernutrition persists into adolescents with 10.2% classified with undernutrition; however, a growing challenge in Guatemala is the increase in overweight and obesity among older children and adolescents. A concerning 28.4% and 9.8% of older children and adolescents are either overweight or obesity, respectively. The incidence of childhood cancer is estimated to be around 10,938 cases per year in Central America. In Guatemala, nearly 900 children between the age of 0-14 years are diagnosed with childhood cancer each year.

IIPAN Center & Collaborators

Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica hospital front view

Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica is the only public hospital in Guatemala specializing in treating pediatric cancer, providing complete cancer care to approximately 450 new diagnoses each year. UNOP's work is supported mostly by the diverse fundraising efforts of Fundación Ayúdame a Vivir (AYUVI), an organization dedicated exclusively to pediatric oncology, and the Ministry of Public health, allowing to provide all resources required to offer a high-quality treatment free of cost to children.

IIPAN’s medical collaborator is Dr. Federico Antillon Klussmann, MD, Medical and Fellowship Director. Ana Lucia Molina, MS, RD is a seasoned dietician working with the IIPAN team in New York and throughout Central America. She works with IIPAN developing an evidence-based nutrition program for the hospital and surrounding countries while also working to advance nutritional research in pediatric oncology throughout Central America.

Site Challenges

  • High prevalence of malnutrition (both stunting and overweight/obesity) among patients; an increasing concern regarding the high number of patients with overweight and obesity.
  • High financial burden for families to obtain treatment.
  • Prolonged travel times to treatment facilities.
  • High provider:patient ratio.
  • Establish a network to extend nutritional knowledge and support to the community setting.

Site Needs

a mother playing with her child
  • Consistent supplies for medical nutrition therapy, including RUTF, F-75, F-100, specialized formulas and multivitamin micronutrient powder.
  • Improved variety of fresh food options for children.
  • Building capacity to serve the increase number of new cases each year.
  • Build a network to support the health and well-being of communities among survivors of childhood cancer and their families.

(Image Source: www.ayuvi.org.gt)